Has me thinking

[payturr]

I never got this straight, but this whole "supported memory types" for processors - for example, Sandy Bridge CPUs support 1066/1333 & Ivy Bridge supports 1333/1600 - I'm assuming that the memory controller is integrated, and when you use lets say 2667MHz RAM, the chipset handles it? Please, someone clear this for me

 

[popatim]

The memory controller always handles it and yes they are integral to the processor now. If you stick 2667 ram in a board that supports 1333 it will run it at 1333. You often can overclock the ram to run it at higher speeds but theres no guarantee of success.

 

[payturr]

So there's a controller on newer motherboards to support it? For reference, if I buy a MSI Z77A-G45 w/ a Core i5 3570K & 1866 8GB DDR3 RAM, it'll run at 1866 cause the board has a controller for it? Or will it underclock to 1600 for the CPU?

 

[mcnumpty23]

the board you specified will set the memory to 1600mhz

as it classes 1866mhz and above as overclocked

Support four DDR3 DIMMs 2667*(OC)/ 2400*(OC)/ 2133*(OC)/ 1866*(OC)/1600/ 1333/ 1066 DRAM

(32GB Max)

so you have to manually set it higher than 1600mhz

 

[k1114]

The cpu supported speed is the stock speed. Ram states the highest speed it has been tested to work at. As stated before, higher speeds are overclocked speeds and you need to set it yourself.

Where the memory controller is located depends on the hardware, but there is only one.

 

[satyamdubey]

here's something that might interest you: http://www.bit-tech.net/hardware/memory/2011/01/11/the-best-memory-for-sandy-bridge/
when intel says 1333 MHz supported, they are talking about the memory controller speed that they have invested their time in testing not essentially the maximum speed their IMC's can handle.

 

[satyamdubey]

its just like how you OC your cpu. there is a rated operational frequency which is reliably tested and branded as the cpu speed and then you take it a few notches up.